Rayagada : Grameen Charcha 2026 concluded in Bisam Cuttack, Rayagada, with a strong and unified “Rayagada Call to Action”a community-led roadmap to strengthen rural livelihoods, protect local ecology, and deepen grassroots governance, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The three-day national platform brought together over 2,000 tribal leaders, women, youth, and grassroots practitioners from seven states, representing more than 50 sangathans. What emerged from these collective voices and lived experiences was a powerful shiftfrom top-down approaches to people-led solutions, firmly positioning communities as the drivers of their own development.
Deliberations across panels, workshops, and the Rayagada Challenge Lab highlighted the urgent need to strengthen village economies through agriculture, local enterprise, and sustainable resource management. Insights drawn from nearly 3,000 villages and over 1.27 lakh households reinforced that self-reliant local economies must be built on improved land use, second cropping, and value addition at the village level.
Participants spoke candidly about the realities they face such as irrigation gaps, rising agricultural distress, limited market access, seasonal migration, weakening traditional livelihoods, and unsafe drinking water. In response, the Rayagada Challenge Lab became a space for solutions, where communities came together to design practical pathways forwardfrom solar irrigation and water harvesting to local processing units and mandis, stronger wage employment and village enterprises, and renewed support for tribal weaving and non-timber forest-based livelihoods.
At Grameen Charcha 2026, people spoke about how the economy, ecology, and culture are deeply connected in everyday life. They shared how natural farming, indigenous food, and traditional knowledge are helping communities build stronger, climate-resilient livelihoods, while also creating opportunities for markets and rural entrepreneurshipespecially for youth and women.
On the final day, this spirit came alive through sports and cultural celebrations. From morning games to evening dances, there was a strong sense of pride, joy, and togetherness. These moments went beyond celebration; they strengthened bonds, built confidence, and showed how culture and sports can inspire resilient, community-led leadership.
The Rayagada Call to Action outlines five core priorities: building self-reliant village economies; investing in decentralised infrastructure including irrigation, storage, and safe drinking water systems; strengthening community-led governance through Palli Sabhas; promoting youth and women leadership through skills and entrepreneurship; and aligning economic development with ecological sustainability.
